Selectively activating a handheld device to control a user interface displayed by a wearable device

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for selectively activating and suspending control of a graphical user interface by two or more electronic devices. A portable eyewear device includes a display projected onto at least one lens assembly and a primary touchpad through which the user may access a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display. A handheld accessory device, such as a ring, includes an auxiliary touchpad that is configured to emulate the primary touchpad. The eyewear processor temporarily suspends inputs from one touchpad when it detects an activation signal from the other touchpad.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/907,787 entitled SELECTIVELY ACTIVATING A HANDHELD DEVICE TOCONTROL A USER INTERFACE DISPLAYED BY A WEARABLE DEVICE, filed on Sep.30, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated fully herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples set forth in the present disclosure relate to portableelectronic devices, including wearable devices such as eyewear. Moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosuredescribes systems and methods for selectively activating and suspendingcontrol of a graphical user interface by two or more electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Many types of computers and electronic devices available today,including mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, and laptops),handheld devices (e.g., smart rings, special-purpose accessories), andwearable devices (e.g., smartglasses, digital eyewear, headwear,headgear, and head-mounted displays), include image displays, inputdevices (e.g., pointing devices, touch-sensitive surfaces), andgraphical user interfaces (GUIs) through which a user can interact withdisplayed content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the various implementations disclosed will be readilyunderstood from the following detailed description, in which referenceis made to the appending drawing figures. A reference numeral is usedwith each element in the description and throughout the several views ofthe drawing. When a plurality of similar elements is present, a singlereference numeral may be assigned to like elements, with an addedlower-case letter referring to a specific element.

The various elements shown in the figures are not drawn to scale unlessotherwise indicated. The dimensions of the various elements may beenlarged or reduced in the interest of clarity. The several figuresdepict one or more implementations and are presented by way of exampleonly and should not be construed as limiting. Included in the drawingare the following figures:

FIG. 1A is a side view (right) of an example hardware configuration ofan eyewear device with a primary input surface, which may be utilized ina selective control and transition system;

FIG. 1B is a top, partly sectional view of a right chunk of the eyeweardevice of FIG. 1A depicting a right visible-light camera, and a circuitboard;

FIG. 1C is a side view (left) of an example hardware configuration ofthe eyewear device of FIG. 1A, which shows a left visible-light camera;

FIG. 1D is a top, partly sectional view of a left chunk of the eyeweardevice of FIG. 1C depicting the left visible-light camera, and a circuitboard;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are rear views of example hardware configurations of aneyewear device utilized in the selective control and transition system;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic depiction of a three-dimensional scene, a leftraw image captured by a left visible-light camera, and a right raw imagecaptured by a right visible-light camera;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example selective control andtransition system including a wearable device (e.g., an eyewear device),a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a smart ring), and a serversystem connected via various networks;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an example hardwareconfiguration for a mobile device of the selective control andtransition system of FIG. 4 , including a block diagram of a GUI enginewith modules for operating a GUI;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of an example hardwareconfiguration for a handheld device (e.g., a smart ring) of theselective control and transition system of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example hardware configuration for ahandheld device (e.g., a smart ring) of the selective control andtransition system of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of an example handheld device(e.g., a smart ring) of the selective control and transition system ofFIG. 4 ;

FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of a segment representing anexample touch input on an input device (e.g., a touchpad) of a handhelddevice (e.g., a smart ring) of the selective control and transitionsystem of FIG. 4 ;

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are example flow charts for operating a GUI on awearable device (e.g., an eyewear device) of the selective control andtransition system of FIG. 4 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various implementations and details are described with reference to anexample: a control and transition system for selectively activating andsuspending control of a graphical user interface by two or moreelectronic devices. A portable eyewear device includes a displayprojected onto at least one lens assembly and a primary touchpad throughwhich the user may access a graphical user interface (GUI) on thedisplay. A handheld accessory device, such as a ring, includes anauxiliary touchpad that is configured to emulate the primary touchpad.If and when the eyewear processor detects an activation signal from theauxiliary touchpad, it temporarily suspends inputs from the primarytouchpad. If and when the eyewear processor a reactivation signal fromthe primary touchpad, it temporarily suspends inputs from the auxiliarytouchpad. In this aspect, the system manages the input from at least twoinput devices (e.g., touchpads) including control of the transitionsfrom one to the other. In addition to the selective control andtransition system, the systems and methods described herein may beapplied to and used with any of a variety of systems, especially thosein which a user desires to use two or more electronic devices to accessand control a graphical user interface (GUI).

The following detailed description includes systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine programproducts illustrative of examples set forth in the disclosure. Numerousdetails and examples are included for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter and its relevantteachings. Those skilled in the relevant art, however, may understandhow to apply the relevant teachings without such details. Aspects of thedisclosed subject matter are not limited to the specific devices,systems, and method described because the relevant teachings can beapplied or practice in a variety of ways. The terminology andnomenclature used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects only and is not intended to be limiting. In general, well-knowninstruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are notnecessarily shown in detail.

The term “coupled” or “connected” as used herein refers to any logical,optical, physical, or electrical connection, including a link or thelike by which the electrical or magnetic signals produced or supplied byone system element are imparted to another coupled or connected systemelement. Unless described otherwise, coupled or connected elements ordevices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may beseparated by intermediate components, elements, or communication media,one or more of which may modify, manipulate, or carry the electricalsignals. The term “on” means directly supported by an element orindirectly supported by the element through another element integratedinto or supported by the element.

The term “emulate” as used herein means to approximately mirror, match,or reproduce in a second device the features, functions, or actions of afirst device.

The orientations of the eyewear device, the handheld device, associatedcomponents and any other complete devices incorporating a camera or aninertial measurement unit such as shown in any of the drawings, aregiven by way of example only, for illustration and discussion purposes.In operation, the eyewear device may be oriented in any other directionsuitable to the particular application of the eyewear device; forexample, up, down, sideways, or any other orientation. Also, to theextent used herein, any directional term, such as front, rear, inward,outward, toward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, up, down, upper,lower, top, bottom, side, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal are used byway of example only, and are not limiting as to the direction ororientation of any camera inertial measurement unit as constructed asotherwise described herein.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the following description, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by productionor operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the presentsubject matter may be realized and attained by means of themethodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

The present disclosure describes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products forimplementing a graphical user interface (GUI) for use with eyeweardevices. In some implementations, the GUI is implemented using swipingmotions in orthogonal directions (up, down, left, right) with one ormore contextual menus that are always available to the user, with one ormore clear call-to-action menu items, and with visual feedback toconfirm when an action has been detected and received. The contextualmenu items may be designed to facilitate memorization, in order to allowa user to take fast action.

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and discussed below.

FIG. 1A is a side view (right) of an example hardware configuration ofan eyewear device 100 which includes a touch-sensitive input device ortouchpad 181. As shown, the touchpad 181 may have a boundary that issubtle and not easily seen; alternatively, the boundary may be plainlyvisible or include a raised or otherwise tactile edge that providesfeedback to the user about the location and boundary of the touchpad181. In other implementations, the eyewear 100 may include a touchpad onthe left side.

The surface of the touchpad 181 is configured to detect finger touches,taps, and gestures (e.g., moving touches) for use with a GUI displayedby the eyewear, on a display, to allow the user to navigate through andselect menu options in an intuitive manner, which enhances andsimplifies the user experience.

Detection of finger inputs on the touchpad 181 can enable severalfunctions. For example, touching anywhere on the touchpad 181 may causethe GUI to display or highlight an item on the screen of the imagedisplay, which may be projected onto at least one of the opticalassemblies 180A, 180B. Double tapping on the touchpad 181 may select anitem or icon. Sliding or swiping a finger in a particular direction(e.g., from front to back, back to front, up to down, or down to) maycause the items or icons to slide or scroll in a particular direction;for example, to move to a next item, icon, video, image, page, or slide.Sliding the finger in another direction may slide or scroll in theopposite direction; for example, to move to a previous item, icon,video, image, page, or slide. The touchpad 181 can be virtually anywhereon the eyewear device 100.

In one example, when the identified finger gesture is a single tap onthe touchpad 181, this initiates selection or pressing of a graphicaluser interface element in the image presented on the image display ofthe optical assembly 180A, 180B. An adjustment to the image presented onthe image display of the optical assembly 180A, 180B based on theidentified finger gesture can be a primary action which selects orsubmits the graphical user interface element on the image display of theoptical assembly 180A, 180B for further display or execution.

As shown, the eyewear 100 includes a right visible-light camera 114B. Asfurther described herein, two cameras 114A, 114B capture imageinformation for a scene from two separate viewpoints. The two capturedimages may be used to project a three-dimensional display onto a screenfor viewing with 3D glasses.

The eyewear device 100 includes a right optical assembly 180B with animage display to present images, such as depth images. As shown in FIGS.1A and 1B, the eyewear device 100 includes the right visible-lightcamera 114B. The eyewear device 100 can include multiple visible-lightcameras 114A, 114B that form a passive type of three-dimensional camera,such as stereo camera, of which the right visible-light camera 114B islocated on a right chunk 110B. As shown in FIGS. 1C-D, the eyeweardevice 100 also includes a left visible-light camera 114A.

Left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114B are sensitive to thevisible-light range wavelength. Each of the visible-light cameras 114A,114B have a different frontward facing field of view which areoverlapping to enable generation of three-dimensional depth images, forexample, right visible-light camera 114B depicts a right field of view111B. Generally, a “field of view” is the part of the scene that isvisible through the camera at a particular position and orientation inspace. The fields of view 111A and 111B have an overlapping field ofview 813. Objects or object features outside the field of view 111A,111B when the visible-light camera captures the image are not recordedin a raw image (e.g., photograph or picture). The field of viewdescribes an angle range or extent, which the image sensor of thevisible-light camera 114A, 114B picks up electromagnetic radiation of agiven scene in a captured image of the given scene. Field of view can beexpressed as the angular size of the view cone, i.e., an angle of view.The angle of view can be measured horizontally, vertically, ordiagonally.

In an example, visible-light cameras 114A, 114B have a field of viewwith an angle of view between 15° to 30°, for example 24°, and have aresolution of 480×480 pixels. The “angle of coverage” describes theangle range that a lens of visible-light cameras 114A, 114B or infraredcamera 220 (see FIG. 2A) can effectively image. Typically, the cameralens produces an image circle that is large enough to cover the film orsensor of the camera completely, possibly including some vignettingtoward the edge. If the angle of coverage of the camera lens does notfill the sensor, the image circle will be visible, typically with strongvignetting toward the edge, and the effective angle of view will belimited to the angle of coverage.

Examples of such visible-light cameras 114A, 114B include ahigh-resolution complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imagesensor and a digital VGA camera (video graphics array) capable ofresolutions of 640p (e.g., 640×480 pixels for a total of 0.3megapixels), 720p, or 1080p. Other examples of visible-light cameras114A, 114B that can capture high-definition (HD) still images and storethem at a resolution of 1642 by 1642 pixels (or greater); or recordhigh-definition video at a high frame rate (e.g., thirty to sixty framesper second or more) and store the recording at a resolution of 1216 by1216 pixels (or greater).

The eyewear device 100 may capture image sensor data from thevisible-light cameras 114A, 114B along with geolocation data, digitizedby an image processor, for storage in a memory. The left and right rawimages captured by respective visible-light cameras 114A, 114B are inthe two-dimensional space domain and comprise a matrix of pixels on atwo-dimensional coordinate system that includes an X-axis for horizontalposition and a Y-axis for vertical position. Each pixel includes a colorattribute value (e.g., a red pixel light value, a green pixel lightvalue, and a blue pixel light value); and a position attribute (e.g., anX-axis coordinate and a Y-axis coordinate).

In order to capture stereo images for later display as athree-dimensional projection, the image processor 912 (shown in FIG. 4 )may be coupled to the visible-light cameras 114A, 114B to receive andstore the visual image information. A timestamp for each image may beadded by the image processor 912 or another processor which controlsoperation of the visible-light cameras 114A, 114B, which act as a stereocamera to simulate human binocular vision. The timestamp on each pair ofimages allows the images to be displayed together as part of athree-dimensional projection. Three-dimensional projections produce animmersive, life-like experience that is desirable in a variety ofcontexts, including virtual reality (VR) and video gaming.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic depiction of a three-dimensional scene 715, aleft raw image 858A captured by a left visible-light camera 114A, and aright raw image 858B captured by a right visible-light camera 114B. Theleft field of view 111A may overlap, as shown, with the right field ofview 111B. The overlapping field of view 813 represents that portion ofthe image captured by both cameras 114A, 114B. The term ‘overlapping’when referring to field of view means the matrix of pixels in thegenerated raw images overlap by thirty percent (30%) or more.‘Substantially overlapping’ means the matrix of pixels in the generatedraw images—or in the infrared image of scene—overlap by fifty percent(50%) or more. As described herein, the two raw images 858A, 858B may beprocessed to include a timestamp, which allows the images to bedisplayed together as part of a three-dimensional projection.

For the capture of stereo images, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , a pair ofraw red, green, and blue (RGB) images are captured of a real scene 715at a given moment in time—a left raw image 858A captured by the leftcamera 114A and right raw image 858B captured by the right camera 114B.When the pair of raw images 858A, 858B are processed (e.g., by the imageprocessor 912), depth images are generated. The generated depth imagesmay be viewed on an optical assembly 180A, 180B of an eyewear device, onanother display (e.g., the image display 880 on a mobile device 890), oron a screen.

The generated depth images are in the three-dimensional space domain andcan comprise a matrix of vertices on a three-dimensional locationcoordinate system that includes an X axis for horizontal position (e.g.,length), a Y axis for vertical position (e.g., height), and a Z axis fordepth (e.g., distance). Each vertex may include a color attribute (e.g.,a red pixel light value, a green pixel light value, and a blue pixellight value); a position attribute (e.g., an X location coordinate, a Ylocation coordinate, and a Z location coordinate); a texture attribute;a reflectance attribute; or combination thereof. The texture attributequantifies the perceived texture of the depth image, such as the spatialarrangement of color or intensities in a region of vertices of the depthimage.

In one example, the selective control and transition system 1000includes the eyewear device 100, which includes a frame 105 and a lefttemple 110A extending from a left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 anda right temple 110B extending from a right lateral side 170B of theframe 105. The eyewear device 100 may further include at least twovisible-light cameras 114A, 114B which may have overlapping fields ofview. In one example, the eyewear device 100 includes a leftvisible-light camera 114A with a left field of view 111A, as illustratedin FIG. 3 . The left camera 114A is connected to the frame 105 or theleft temple 110A to capture a left raw image 858A from the left side ofscene 715. The eyewear device 100 further includes a right visible-lightcamera 114B with a right field of view 111B. The right camera 114B isconnected to the frame 105 or the right temple 110B to capture a rightraw image 858B from the right side of scene 715.

FIG. 1B is a top cross-sectional view of a right chunk 110B of theeyewear device 100 of FIG. 1A depicting the right visible-light camera114B of the camera system, and a circuit board. FIG. 1C is a side view(left) of an example hardware configuration of an eyewear device 100 ofFIG. 1A, which shows a left visible-light camera 114A of the camerasystem. FIG. 1D is a top cross-sectional view of a left chunk 110A ofthe eyewear device of FIG. 1C depicting the left visible-light camera114A of the three-dimensional camera, and a circuit board. Constructionand placement of the left visible-light camera 114A is substantiallysimilar to the right visible-light camera 114B, except the connectionsand coupling are on the left lateral side 170A. As shown in the exampleof FIG. 1B, the eyewear device 100 includes the right visible-lightcamera 114B and a circuit board 140B, which may be a flexible printedcircuit board (PCB). The left hinge 126A connects the left chunk 110A toa left temple 125A of the eyewear device 100. The right hinge 126Bconnects the right chunk 110B to a right temple 125B of the eyeweardevice 100. In some examples, components of the visible-light cameras114A, B, the flexible PCBs 140A, B, or other electrical connectors orcontacts may be located on the temples 125A, B or hinges 126A, B.

The right chunk 110B includes chunk body 211 and a chunk cap, with thechunk cap omitted in the cross-section of FIG. 1B. Disposed inside theright chunk 110B are various interconnected circuit boards, such as PCBsor flexible PCBs, that include controller circuits for rightvisible-light camera 114B, microphone(s), low-power wireless circuitry(e.g., for wireless short range network communication via Bluetooth™),high-speed wireless circuitry (e.g., for wireless local area networkcommunication via WiFi).

The right visible-light camera 114B is coupled to or disposed on theflexible PCB 140B and covered by a visible-light camera cover lens,which is aimed through opening(s) formed in the frame 105. For example,the right rim 107B of the frame 105, shown in FIG. 2A, is connected tothe right chunk 110B and includes the opening(s) for the visible-lightcamera cover lens. The frame 105 includes a front side configured toface outward and away from the eye of the user. The opening for thevisible-light camera cover lens is formed on and through the front oroutward-facing side of the frame 105. In the example, the rightvisible-light camera 114B has an outward-facing field of view 111B(shown in FIG. 3 ) with a line of sight or perspective that iscorrelated with the right eye of the user of the eyewear device 100. Thevisible-light camera cover lens can also be adhered to a front side oroutward-facing surface of the right chunk 110B in which an opening isformed with an outward-facing angle of coverage, but in a differentoutwardly direction. The coupling can also be indirect via interveningcomponents.

As shown in FIG. 1B, flexible PCB 140B is disposed inside the rightchunk 110B and is coupled to one or more other components housed in theright chunk 110B. Although shown as being formed on the circuit boardsof the right chunk 110B, the right visible-light camera 114B can beformed on the circuit boards of the left chunk 110A, the temples 125A,125B, or the frame 105.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views, from the rear, of examplehardware configurations of the eyewear device 100, including twodifferent types of image displays. The eyewear device 100 is sized andshaped in a form configured for wearing by a user; the form ofeyeglasses is shown in the example. The eyewear device 100 can takeother forms and may incorporate other types of frameworks; for example,a headgear, a headset, or a helmet.

In the eyeglasses example, eyewear device 100 includes a frame 105including a left rim 107A connected to a right rim 107B via a bridge 106adapted to be supported by a nose of the user. The left and right rims107A, 107B include respective apertures 175A, 175B, which hold arespective optical element 180A, 180B, such as a lens and a displaydevice. As used herein, the term “lens” is meant to include transparentor translucent pieces of glass or plastic having curved or flat surfacesthat cause light to converge/diverge or that cause little or noconvergence or divergence.

Although shown as having two optical elements 180A, 180B, the eyeweardevice 100 can include other arrangements, such as a single opticalelement (or it may not include any optical element 180A, 180B),depending on the application or the intended user of the eyewear device100. As further shown, eyewear device 100 includes a left chunk 110Aadjacent the left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 and a right chunk110B adjacent the right lateral side 170B of the frame 105. The chunks110A, 110B may be integrated into the frame 105 on the respective sides170A, 170B (as illustrated) or implemented as separate componentsattached to the frame 105 on the respective sides 170A, 170B.Alternatively, the chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated into temples (notshown) attached to the frame 105.

In one example, the image display of optical assembly 180A, 180Bincludes an integrated image display. As shown in FIG. 2A, each opticalassembly 180A, 180B includes a suitable display matrix 177, such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display, or any other such display. Each optical assembly 180A, 180Balso includes an optical layer or layers 176, which can include lenses,optical coatings, prisms, mirrors, waveguides, optical strips, and otheroptical components in any combination. The optical layers 176A, 176B, .. . 176N (shown as 176A-N in FIG. 2A and herein) can include a prismhaving a suitable size and configuration and including a first surfacefor receiving light from a display matrix and a second surface foremitting light to the eye of the user. The prism of the optical layers176A-N extends over all or at least a portion of the respectiveapertures 175A, 175B formed in the left and right rims 107A, 107B topermit the user to see the second surface of the prism when the eye ofthe user is viewing through the corresponding left and right rims 107A,107B. The first surface of the prism of the optical layers 176A-N facesupwardly from the frame 105 and the display matrix 177 overlies theprism so that photons and light emitted by the display matrix 177impinge the first surface. The prism is sized and shaped so that thelight is refracted within the prism and is directed toward the eye ofthe user by the second surface of the prism of the optical layers176A-N. In this regard, the second surface of the prism of the opticallayers 176A-N can be convex to direct the light toward the center of theeye. The prism can optionally be sized and shaped to magnify the imageprojected by the display matrix 177, and the light travels through theprism so that the image viewed from the second surface is larger in oneor more dimensions than the image emitted from the display matrix 177.

In one example, the optical layers 176A-N may include an LCD layer thatis transparent (keeping the lens open) unless and until a voltage isapplied which makes the layer opaque (closing or blocking the lens). Theimage processor 912 on the eyewear device 100 may execute programming toapply the voltage to the LCD layer in order to produce an active shuttersystem, making the eyewear device 100 suitable for viewing visualcontent when displayed as a three-dimensional projection. Technologiesother than LCD may be used for the active shutter mode, including othertypes of reactive layers that are responsive to a voltage or anothertype of input.

In another example, the image display device of optical assembly 180A,180B includes a projection image display as shown in FIG. 2B. Eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B includes a laser projector 150, which is athree-color laser projector using a scanning mirror or galvanometer.During operation, an optical source such as a laser projector 150 isdisposed in or on one of the temples 125A, 125B of the eyewear device100. Optical assembly 180B in this example includes one or more opticalstrips 155A, 155B, . . . 155N (shown as 155A-N in FIG. 2B) which arespaced apart and across the width of the lens of each optical assembly180A, 180B or across a depth of the lens between the front surface andthe rear surface of the lens.

As the photons projected by the laser projector 150 travel across thelens of each optical assembly 180A, 180B, the photons encounter theoptical strips 155A-N. When a particular photon encounters a particularoptical strip, the photon is either redirected toward the user's eye, orit passes to the next optical strip. A combination of modulation oflaser projector 150, and modulation of optical strips, may controlspecific photons or beams of light. In an example, a processor controlsoptical strips 155A-N by initiating mechanical, acoustic, orelectromagnetic signals. Although shown as having two optical assemblies180A, 180B, the eyewear device 100 can include other arrangements, suchas a single or three optical assemblies, or each optical assembly 180A,180B may have arranged different arrangement depending on theapplication or intended user of the eyewear device 100.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, eyewear device 100 includes a leftchunk 110A adjacent the left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 and aright chunk 110B adjacent the right lateral side 170B of the frame 105.The chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated into the frame 105 on therespective lateral sides 170A, 170B (as illustrated) or implemented asseparate components attached to the frame 105 on the respective sides170A, 170B. Alternatively, the chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated intotemples 125A, 125B attached to the frame 105.

In another example, the eyewear device 100 shown in FIG. 2B may includetwo projectors, a left projector 150A (not shown) and a right projector150B (shown as projector 150). The left optical assembly 180A mayinclude a left display matrix 177A (not shown) or a left set of opticalstrips 155′A, 155′B, . . . 155′N (155 prime, A through N, not shown)which are configured to interact with light from the left projector150A. Similarly, the right optical assembly 180B may include a rightdisplay matrix 177B (not shown) or a right set of optical strips 155″A,155″B, . . . 155″N (155 double-prime, A through N, not shown) which areconfigured to interact with light from the right projector 150B. In thisexample, the eyewear device 100 includes a left display and a rightdisplay.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example selective control andtransition system 1000 including a wearable device 100 (e.g., an eyeweardevice), a mobile device 890, a handheld device 500 (e.g., a ring), anda server system 998 connected via various networks 995 such as theInternet. The system 1000 includes a low-power wireless connection 925and a high-speed wireless connection 937 between the eyewear device 100and a mobile device 890—and, in some implementations, as shown, betweenthe eyewear device 100 and the ring 500.

Finger tap and gesture detection programming 345, including GUIselection programming 347 and GUI display programming 349, are stored inmemory 934 for execution by one of the processors 932, 922 of theeyewear 100. The eyewear device 100 further includes a user input device991 (e.g., a touch sensor or touchpad 181) to receive input from a user.

The eyewear device 100 includes one or more visible-light cameras 114A,114B which may be capable of capturing still images or video, asdescribed herein. The cameras 114A, 114B may have a direct memory access(DMA) to high-speed circuitry 930. A pair of cameras 114A, 114B mayfunction as a stereo camera, as described herein. The cameras 114A, 114Bmay be used to capture initial-depth images that may be rendered intothree-dimensional (3D) models that are texture-mapped images of a red,green, and blue (RGB) imaged scene. The device 100 may also include adepth sensor 213, which uses infrared signals to estimate the positionof objects relative to the device 100. The depth sensor 213 in someexamples includes one or more infrared emitter(s) 215 and infraredcamera(s) 220.

The eyewear device 100 further includes two image displays of eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B (one associated with the left side 170A andone associated with the right side 170B). The eyewear device 100 alsoincludes an image display driver 942, an image processor 912, low-powercircuitry 920, and high-speed circuitry 930. The image displays of eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B are for presenting images, including stillimages and video. The image display driver 942 is coupled to the imagedisplays of each optical assembly 180A, 180B in order to control theimages displayed.

The components shown in FIG. 4 for the eyewear device 100 are located onone or more circuit boards, for example a PCB or flexible PCB, locatedin the rims or temples. Alternatively, or additionally, the depictedcomponents can be located in the chunks, frames, hinges, or bridge ofthe eyewear device 100. Left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114Bcan include digital camera elements such as a complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, a charge-coupled device,a lens, or any other respective visible or light capturing elements thatmay be used to capture data, including still images or video of sceneswith unknown objects.

As shown in FIG. 4 , high-speed circuitry 930 includes a high-speedprocessor 932, a memory 934, and high-speed wireless circuitry 936. Inthe example, the image display driver 942 is coupled to the high-speedcircuitry 930 and operated by the high-speed processor 932 in order todrive the left and right image displays of each optical assembly 180A,180B. High-speed processor 932 may be any processor capable of managinghigh-speed communications and operation of any general computing systemneeded for eyewear device 100. High-speed processor 932 includesprocessing resources needed for managing high-speed data transfers onhigh-speed wireless connection 937 to a wireless local area network(WLAN) using high-speed wireless circuitry 936. In certain examples, thehigh-speed processor 932 executes an operating system such as a LINUXoperating system or other such operating system of the eyewear device100 and the operating system is stored in memory 934 for execution. Inaddition to any other responsibilities, the high-speed processor 932executes a software architecture for the eyewear device 100 that is usedto manage data transfers with high-speed wireless circuitry 936. Incertain examples, high-speed wireless circuitry 936 is configured toimplement Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11communication standards, also referred to herein as Wi-Fi. In otherexamples, other high-speed communications standards may be implementedby high-speed wireless circuitry 936.

The low-power circuitry 920 includes a low-power processor 922 andlow-power wireless circuitry 924. The low-power wireless circuitry 924and the high-speed wireless circuitry 936 of the eyewear device 100 caninclude short range transceivers (Bluetooth™) and wireless wide, local,or wide-area network transceivers (e.g., cellular or WiFi). Mobiledevice 890, including the transceivers communicating via the low-powerwireless connection 925 and the high-speed wireless connection 937, maybe implemented using details of the architecture of the eyewear device100, as can other elements of the network 995.

Memory 934 includes any storage device capable of storing various dataand applications, including, among other things, camera data generatedby the left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114B, the infraredcamera(s) 220, the image processor 912, and images generated for displayby the image display driver 942 on the image display of each opticalassembly 180A, 180B. Although the memory 934 is shown as integrated withhigh-speed circuitry 930, the memory 934 in other examples may be anindependent, standalone element of the eyewear device 100. In certainsuch examples, electrical routing lines may provide a connection througha chip that includes the high-speed processor 932 from the imageprocessor 912 or low-power processor 922 to the memory 934. In otherexamples, the high-speed processor 932 may manage addressing of memory934 such that the low-power processor 922 will boot the high-speedprocessor 932 any time that a read or write operation involving memory934 is needed.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the high-speed processor 932 of the eyewear device100 can be coupled to the camera system (visible-light cameras 114A,114B), the image display driver 942, the user input device 991, and thememory 934. As shown in FIG. 5 , the CPU 830 of the mobile device 890may be coupled to a camera system 870, a mobile display driver 882, auser input layer 891, and a memory 840A.

The eyewear device 100 can perform all or a subset of any of thefunctions described herein which result from the execution of theselective control and transition system 1000 in the memory 934 by one ofthe processors 932, 922 of the eyewear device 100. The mobile device 890can perform all or a subset of any of the functions described hereinwhich result from the execution of the selective control and transitionsystem 1000 in the flash memory 840A by the CPU 830 of the mobile device890. Functions can be divided in the selective control and transitionsystem 1000 such that the ring 500 collects raw input data from itsauxiliary touchpad 591 and sends it to the eyewear device 100 whichperforms the selecting and displaying functions relative to theoperation of the GUI.

The server system 998 may be one or more computing devices as part of aservice or network computing system, for example, that include aprocessor, a memory, and network communication interface to communicateover the network 995 with an eyewear device 100 and a mobile device 890.

The output components of the eyewear device 100 include visual elements,such as the left and right image displays associated with each lens oroptical assembly 180A, 180B as described in FIGS. 2A and 2B (e.g., adisplay such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel(PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a projector, or awaveguide). The eyewear device 100 may include a user-facing indicator(e.g., an LED, a loudspeaker, or a vibrating actuator), or anoutward-facing signal (e.g., an LED, a loudspeaker). The image displaysof each optical assembly 180A, 180B are driven by the image displaydriver 942. In some example configurations, the output components of theeyewear device 100 further include additional indicators such as audibleelements (e.g., loudspeakers), tactile components (e.g., an actuatorsuch as a vibratory motor to generate haptic feedback), and other signalgenerators. For example, the device 100 may include a user-facing set ofindicators, and an outward-facing set of signals. The user-facing set ofindicators are configured to be seen or otherwise sensed by the user ofthe device 100. For example, the device 100 may include an LED displaypositioned so the user can see it, a loudspeaker positioned to generatea sound the user can hear, or an actuator to provide haptic feedback theuser can feel. The outward-facing set of signals are configured to beseen or otherwise sensed by an observer near the device 100. Similarly,the device 100 may include an LED, a loudspeaker, or an actuator that isconfigured and positioned to be sensed by an observer.

The input components of the eyewear device 100 may include alphanumericinput components (e.g., a touch screen or touchpad configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or otheralphanumeric-configured elements), pointer-based input components (e.g.,a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or otherpointing instruments), tactile input components (e.g., a button switch,a touch screen or touchpad that senses the location, force of touches ortouch gestures, or other tactile-configured elements), and audio inputcomponents (e.g., a microphone), and the like. The mobile device 890 andthe server system 998 may include alphanumeric, pointer-based, tactile,audio, and other input components.

In some examples, the eyewear device 100 includes a collection ofmotion-sensing components referred to as an inertial measurement unit972. The motion-sensing components may be micro-electro-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) with microscopic moving parts, often small enough to bepart of a microchip. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) 972 in someexample configurations includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and amagnetometer. The accelerometer senses the linear acceleration of thedevice 100 (including the acceleration due to gravity) relative to threeorthogonal axes (x, y, z). The gyroscope senses the angular velocity ofthe device 100 about three axes of rotation (pitch, roll, yaw).Together, the accelerometer and gyroscope can provide position,orientation, and motion data about the device relative to six axes (x,y, z, pitch, roll, yaw). The magnetometer, if present, senses theheading of the device 100 relative to magnetic north. The position ofthe device 100 may be determined by location sensors, such as a GPSreceiver, one or more transceivers to generate relative positioncoordinates, altitude sensors or barometers, and other orientationsensors. Such positioning system coordinates can also be received overthe wireless connections 925, 937 from the mobile device 890 via thelow-power wireless circuitry 924 or the high-speed wireless circuitry936.

The IMU 972 may include or cooperate with a digital motion processor orprogramming that gathers the raw data from the components and compute anumber of useful values about the position, orientation, and motion ofthe device 100. For example, the acceleration data gathered from theaccelerometer can be integrated to obtain the velocity relative to eachaxis (x, y, z); and integrated again to obtain the position of thedevice 100 (in linear coordinates, x, y, and z). The angular velocitydata from the gyroscope can be integrated to obtain the position of thedevice 100 (in spherical coordinates). The programming for computingthese useful values may be stored in memory 934 and executed by thehigh-speed processor 932 of the eyewear device 100.

The eyewear device 100 may optionally include additional peripheralsensors, such as biometric sensors, specialty sensors, or displayelements integrated with eyewear device 100. For example, peripheraldevice elements may include any I/O components including outputcomponents, motion components, position components, or any other suchelements described herein. For example, the biometric sensors mayinclude components to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), tomeasure biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), or to identify a person (e.g.,identification based on voice, retina, facial characteristics,fingerprints, or electrical biosignals such as electroencephalogramdata), and the like.

The mobile device 890 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer,access point, or any other such device capable of connecting witheyewear device 100 using both a low-power wireless connection 925 and ahigh-speed wireless connection 937. Mobile device 890 is connected toserver system 998 and network 995. The network 995 may include anycombination of wired and wireless connections.

The selective control and transition system 1000, as shown in FIG. 4 ,includes a computing device, such as mobile device 890, coupled to aneyewear device 100 and to a handheld device or ring 500 over a network.The selective control and transition system 1000 includes a memory forstoring instructions and a processor for executing the instructions.Execution of the instructions of the selective control and transitionsystem 1000 by the processor 932 configures the eyewear device 100 tocooperate with the ring 500 or the mobile device 890. The system 1000may utilize the memory 934 of the eyewear device 100 or the memoryelements 840A, 840B of the mobile device 890 (FIG. 5 ) or the memory 540of the ring 500 (FIG. 6 ). Also, the system 1000 may utilize theprocessor elements 932, 922 of the eyewear device 100 or the centralprocessing unit (CPU) 830 of the mobile device 890 (FIG. 5 ) or themicrocontroller 530 of the ring 500 (FIG. 6 ). Furthermore, the system1000 may further utilize the memory and processor elements of the serversystem 998. In this aspect, the memory and processing functions of theselective control and transition system 1000 can be shared ordistributed across the eyewear device 100, the mobile device 890, thering 500, or the server system 998.

FIG. 5 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example mobiledevice 890. Mobile device 890 includes a flash memory 840A which storesprogramming to be executed by the CPU 830 to perform all or a subset ofthe functions described herein. As shown a GUI engine 600 may reside onthe CPU 830 and accessed for operating the graphical user interface(GUI) on the mobile device 890 as well as other devices in the system1000. One or more flow charts, as shown, may be stored in the memory840A.

The GUI engine 600 in some implementations includes a touch module 602,a selection module 604, and a display module 606. The touch module 602is a computer module for execution on a processor (e.g., CPU 830). Thetouch module 602 detects the inputs sensed by the touchpad 181 on theeyewear device 100—or from the auxiliary touchpad 591 on the ring 500.The ring 500 offers users a break from manipulating the touchpad 181 onthe side of the eyewear 100, which may occupy the hands for long periodsor cause fatigue. In response to the detected inputs, the touch module602 identifies the finger taps, touches, holds, slides, and swipes whichmatch the inputs. The GUI engine 600 may also reside, in whole or inpart, on the microcontroller 530 of the handheld device or ring 500(FIG. 6 ).

In some implementations the touch module 602 also detects when anactivation signal is sensed by the auxiliary touchpad 591 on the ring500. In response, the touch module 602 temporarily suspends all inputsfrom the primary touchpad 181 on the eyewear device 100. With theauxiliary touchpad 591 now serving as the controlling input device, thetouch module 602 detects when an auxiliary finger touch is sensed by theauxiliary touchpad 591 on the ring 500 and, in response, presents thenext or subsequent GUI on the display. In this aspect, the touch module602 controls which input device has priority.

The touch module 602 also detects when a reactivation signal is sensedby the primary touchpad 181 on the eyewear 100, signaling that theprimary touchpad 181 should now control the GUI. In response, the touchmodule 602 temporarily suspends all inputs from the auxiliary touchpad591 on the ring 600. With the primary touchpad 181 now serving as thecontrolling input device, the touch module 602 detects when a primaryfinger touch is sensed by the primary touchpad 181 on the eyewear 100and, in response, presents the first GUI on the display.

The GUI selection module 604 is a computer module for execution on aprocessor of a computer platform that identifies which GUI to display tothe user. The GUI selection module 604 monitors applications running onthe computer platform and selects a GUI based on notifications from theapplications. For example, if a text application receives an incomingemail and provides a notification, the GUI selection module 604 selectsthe appropriate GUI. If another application such as a camera applicationprovides a notification that a picture was taken, the GUI selectionmodule 604 selects the appropriate GUI. Additionally, the GUI selectionmodule 604 selects a GUI based on which input surface has primarycontrol of the GUI. For example, when the touchpad 181 on the rightlateral surface of the eyewear 100 is primary, the GUI is presented froma right-hand perspective. When a touchpad on the left is primary, theGUI is presented from a left-hand perspective. When the auxiliarytouchpad 591 on the ring 500 is primary, the GUI is presented from astraight or head-on perspective.

The GUI display module 606 is a computer module for execution on aprocessor of a computer platform that displays the GUIs to the user onat least one optical assembly 180A, 180B of the eyewear device 100. Thedisplay module 606 also controls the transitions from one GUI toanother. For example, if the user presses the left touchpad and then theright touchpad 181, the GUI display module 606 will transition from theGUI with the left-hand perspective to the GUI with the right-handperspective.

Mobile device 890 may include a camera 870 that comprises at least twovisible-light cameras (first and second visible-light cameras withoverlapping fields of view) or at least one visible-light camera and adepth sensor with substantially overlapping fields of view. Flash memory840A may further include multiple images or video, which are generatedvia the camera 870.

As shown, the mobile device 890 includes an image display 880, a mobiledisplay driver 882 to control the image display 880, and a controller884. In the example of FIG. 4 , the image display 880 includes a userinput layer 891 (e.g., a touchscreen) that is layered on top of orotherwise integrated into the screen used by the image display 880.

Examples of touchscreen-type mobile devices that may be used include(but are not limited to) a smart phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or other portable device.However, the structure and operation of the touchscreen-type devices isprovided by way of example; the subject technology as described hereinis not intended to be limited thereto. For purposes of this discussion,FIG. 4 therefore provides a block diagram illustration of the examplemobile device 890 with a user interface that includes a touchscreeninput layer 891 for receiving input (by touch, multi-touch, or gesture,and the like, by hand, stylus or other tool) and an image display 880for displaying content

As shown in FIG. 4 , the mobile device 890 includes at least one digitaltransceiver (XCVR) 810, shown as WWAN XCVRs, for digital wirelesscommunications via a wide-area wireless mobile communication network.The mobile device 890 also includes additional digital or analogtransceivers, such as short range XCVRs 820 for short-range networkcommunication, such as via NFC, VLC, DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth™, or WiFi.For example, short range XCVRs 820 may take the form of any availabletwo-way wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver of a type that iscompatible with one or more standard protocols of communicationimplemented in wireless local area networks, such as one of the Wi-Fistandards under IEEE 802.11.

To generate location coordinates for positioning of the mobile device890, the mobile device 890 can include a global positioning system (GPS)receiver. Alternatively, or additionally the mobile device 890 canutilize either or both the short range XCVRs 820 and WWAN XCVRs 810 forgenerating location coordinates for positioning. For example, cellularnetwork, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth™ based positioning systems can generatevery accurate location coordinates, particularly when used incombination. Such location coordinates can be transmitted to the eyeweardevice over one or more network connections via XCVRs 810, 820.

The transceivers 810, 820 (i.e., the network communication interface)conforms to one or more of the various digital wireless communicationstandards utilized by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWANtransceivers 810 include (but are not limited to) transceiversconfigured to operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networktechnologies including, for example and without limitation, 3GPP type 2(or 3GPP2) and LTE, at times referred to as “4G.” For example, thetransceivers 810, 820 provide two-way wireless communication ofinformation including digitized audio signals, still image and videosignals, web page information for display as well as web-related inputs,and various types of mobile message communications to/from the mobiledevice 890.

The mobile device 890 further includes a microprocessor that functionsas a central processing unit (CPU); shown as CPU 830 in FIG. 4 . Aprocessor is a circuit having elements structured and arranged toperform one or more processing functions, typically various dataprocessing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used,the examples utilize components forming a programmable CPU. Amicroprocessor for example includes one or more integrated circuit (IC)chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions ofthe CPU. The CPU 830, for example, may be based on any known oravailable microprocessor architecture, such as a Reduced Instruction SetComputing (RISC) using an ARM architecture, as commonly used today inmobile devices and other portable electronic devices. Of course, otherarrangements of processor circuitry may be used to form the CPU 830 orprocessor hardware in smartphone, laptop computer, and tablet.

The CPU 830 serves as a programmable host controller for the mobiledevice 890 by configuring the mobile device 890 to perform variousoperations, for example, in accordance with instructions or programmingexecutable by CPU 830. For example, such operations may include variousgeneral operations of the mobile device, as well as operations relatedto the programming for applications on the mobile device. Although aprocessor may be configured by use of hardwired logic, typicalprocessors in mobile devices are general processing circuits configuredby execution of programming.

The mobile device 890 includes a memory or storage system, for storingprogramming and data. In the example, the memory system may include aflash memory 840A, a random-access memory (RAM) 840B, and other memorycomponents, as needed. The RAM 840B serves as short-term storage forinstructions and data being handled by the CPU 830, e.g., as a workingdata processing memory. The flash memory 840A typically provideslonger-term storage.

Hence, in the example of mobile device 890, the flash memory 840A isused to store programming or instructions for execution by the CPU 830.Depending on the type of device, the mobile device 890 stores and runs amobile operating system through which specific applications areexecuted. Examples of mobile operating systems include Google Android,Apple iOS (for iPhone or iPad devices), Windows Mobile, Amazon Fire OS,RIM BlackBerry OS, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example handhelddevice, such as a ring 500. The ring 500, as shown, includes an inputdevice 591 (e.g., a touchpad), a lamp 550 (e.g., a light-emittingdiode), a touch driver 582, a touch controller 584, a short-rangetransceiver 520, a microcontroller 530, a memory 540, an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU) 572, a battery 505, and one or more charging andcommunications pins 510.

As shown, the GUI engine 600 may also reside, in whole or in part, onthe microcontroller 530 of the ring 500. The modules 602, 604, 606operate with respect to the input device or touchpad 591 on the ring 500in the same or similar manner in which they operate with respect to thetouchpad 181 on the eyewear 100.

The ring 500 includes at least one short-range transceiver 520 that isconfigured for short-range network communication, such as via NFC, VLC,DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth™, BLE (Bluetooth Low-Energy), or WiFi. Theshort-range transceiver(s) 520 may take the form of any availabletwo-way wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver of a type that iscompatible with one or more standard protocols of communicationimplemented in wireless local area networks, such as one of the Wi-Fistandards under IEEE 802.11.

The ring 500 may also include a global positioning system (GPS)receiver. Alternatively, or additionally, the ring 500 can utilizeeither or both the short-range transceiver(s) 520 for generatinglocation coordinates for positioning. For example, cellular network,WiFi, or Bluetooth™ based positioning systems can generate very accuratelocation coordinates, particularly when used in combination. Suchlocation coordinates can be transmitted to one or more eyewear devices100, or to one or more mobile devices 890, over one or more networkconnections via the transceiver(s) 520.

The transceivers 520 (i.e., the network communication interface)conforms to one or more of the various digital wireless communicationstandards utilized by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWANtransceivers include but are not limited to transceivers configured tooperate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) network technologies including,for example and without limitation, 3GPP type 2 (or 3GPP2) and LTE, attimes referred to as “4G.” For example, the transceivers 520 providetwo-way wireless communication of information including digitized audiosignals, still image and video signals, web page information for displayas well as web-related inputs, and various types of mobile messagecommunications to or from the ring 500.

The ring 500 further includes a microcontroller 530 that functions as acentral processing unit (CPU) for the ring 500, as shown in FIG. 6 . Aprocessor is a circuit having elements structured and arranged toperform one or more processing functions, typically various dataprocessing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used,the examples utilize components forming a programmable CPU. Amicroprocessor for example includes one or more integrated circuit (IC)chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions ofthe microprocessor. The microcontroller 530, for example, may be basedon any known or available microprocessor architecture, such as a ReducedInstruction Set Computing (RISC) using an ARM architecture, as commonlyused today in mobile devices and other portable electronic devices. Ofcourse, other arrangements of processor circuitry may be used to formthe microcontroller 530 or processor hardware in smartphone, laptopcomputer, and tablet.

The microcontroller 530 serves as a programmable host controller for theselective control and transition system 1000 by configuring the ring 500to perform various operations; for example, in accordance withinstructions or programming executable by the microcontroller 530. Forexample, such operations may include various general operations of thering 500, as well as operations related to the programming forapplications that reside on the ring 500. Although a processor may beconfigured by use of hardwired logic, typical processors in mobiledevices are general processing circuits configured by execution ofprogramming.

The ring 500 includes one or more memory elements 540 for storingprogramming and data. The memory 540 may include a flash memory, arandom-access memory (RAM), or other memory elements, as needed. Thememory 540 stores the programming and instructions needed to perform allor a subset of the functions described herein. The RAM, if present, mayoperate as short-term storage for instructions and data being handled bythe microcontroller 530. Depending on the particular type of handhelddevice, the ring 500 stores and runs an operating system through whichspecific applications are executed. The operating system may be a mobileoperating system, such as Google Android, Apple iOS, Windows Mobile,Amazon Fire OS, RIM BlackBerry OS, or the like.

In some examples, the ring 500 includes a collection of motion-sensingcomponents referred to as an inertial measurement unit 572. Themotion-sensing components may be micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)with microscopic moving parts, often small enough to be part of amicrochip. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) 572 in some exampleconfigurations includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and amagnetometer. The accelerometer senses the linear acceleration of thering 500 (including the acceleration due to gravity) relative to threeorthogonal axes (x, y, z). The gyroscope senses the angular velocity ofthe ring 500 about three axes of rotation (pitch, roll, yaw). Together,the accelerometer and gyroscope can provide position, orientation, andmotion data about the device relative to six axes (x, y, z, pitch, roll,yaw). The magnetometer, if present, senses the heading of the ring 500relative to magnetic north. The position of the ring 500 may bedetermined by location sensors, such as a GPS receiver, one or moretransceivers to generate relative position coordinates, altitude sensorsor barometers, and other orientation sensors. Such positioning systemcoordinates can also be received over the wireless connections 925, 937from the mobile device 890 via the low-power wireless circuitry 924 orthe high-speed wireless circuitry 936.

The IMU 572 may include or cooperate with a digital motion processor orprogramming that gathers the raw data from the components and compute anumber of useful values about the position, orientation, and motion ofthe ring 500. For example, the acceleration data gathered from theaccelerometer can be integrated to obtain the velocity relative to eachaxis (x, y, z); and integrated again to obtain the position of the ring500 (in linear coordinates, x, y, and z). The angular velocity data fromthe gyroscope can be integrated to obtain the position of the ring 500(in spherical coordinates). The programming for computing these usefulvalues may be stored in memory 934 and executed by the high-speedprocessor 932 of the eyewear device 100.

The ring 500 may optionally include additional peripheral sensors, suchas biometric sensors, specialty sensors, or display elements integratedwith the ring 500. For example, peripheral device elements may includeany I/O components including output components, motion components,position components, or any other such elements described herein. Forexample, the biometric sensors may include components to detectexpressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), to measure biosignals(e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, orbrain waves), or to identify a person (e.g., identification based onvoice, retina, facial characteristics, fingerprints, or electricalbiosignals such as electroencephalogram data), and the like.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example hardware configuration for aring 500. The touchpad 591, a shown, may be sized and shaped to conformclosely to an outer surface of the ring 500. The touchpad 591 may extendlengthwise to span one-quarter of the circumference of the ring 500 insome implementations. The ring 500 may also include a lamp such as anLED 550. The battery 505 may be sized and shaped to fit within the bodyof the ring 500, with connections to one or more charging andcommunications pins 510. As shown, the ring 500 may include an internalspace (beneath the pins 510 in this example) to house a variety ofcomponents, such as a touch driver 582, a touch controller 584, ashort-range transceiver 520, a microcontroller 530, a memory 540, and aninertial measurement unit (IMU) 572.

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a hand 10 holding an examplehandheld device (e.g., a smart ring 500) of the selective control andtransition system 1000 described herein. As shown, the ring 500 issupported on the first or index finger, with the thumb engaging thetouchpad 591. Other holding postures and placements of the ring 500 onor by the hand 10 are common, depending on the dexterity and preferenceof the user.

FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of a segment 520 representing anexample touch input on the touchpad 591 of a ring 500. In anotheraspect, the method of sensing touch input may include collecting trackdata from the input device or touchpad 591. The track data is associatedwith a segment 520 traversed by a finger along the touchpad 591. Thesegment 520 may be similar to a line segment, without meeting thegeometrical definition of a line segment. The system 1000 in someimplementations may detect the segment 520 and construct a best-fit linesegment that approximates the segment 520 in length and heading.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the segment 520 has a length and a heading relativeto a touchpad coordinate system 510. The length of the segment 520 maybe used to establish a value. The heading of the segment 520 relative tothe coordinate system 510 may be used to establish a direction (up,down, left, right), a sign (positive or negative), or anothercharacteristic associated with the touch input.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are example flow charts for operating a GUIusing the GUI engine 600. Although the steps are described withreference to the eyewear 100 described herein, other implementations ofthe steps described, for other types of devices, will be understood byone of skill in the art from the description herein. Additionally, it iscontemplated that one or more of the steps shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and10C may be omitted, performed simultaneously or in a series, performedin an order other than illustrated and described, or performed inconjunction with additional steps.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the Selection Flow 700 depicts steps for selectingan action using a GUI. At step 702, monitor the application(s): the GUIselection module 604 of the eyewear device 100 (e.g., processors 922,932 and associated programming instructions) monitors applicationsrunning on the eyewear device 100 (e.g., a texting app, a camera app,etc.) or an associated mobile device 890. At step 704, determine thestate of the application(s): the GUI selection module 604 of the eyeweardevice 100 monitors applications for notification events (e.g., amessage received by a texting app, an image captured by a camera app,etc.).

At step 706, select a GUI for display: the GUI selection module 604 ofthe mobile device 890 selects a GUI. The GUI selection is based on theinput surface 181 or the state of the application(s). For example, aprocessor implementing the GUI selection module 604 selects a left-handperspective GUI when the input surface on the left hand side of theeyewear is in use, a right-hand perspective GUI when the right touchpad181 is in use, and a straight-on perspective GUI when the input isreceived from the auxiliary touchpad 591 on an accessory device such asa ring 500. Additionally, different actions are available through theGUI when a text message is received by a texting app and when an imageis captured by a camera app.

At step 708, detect a finger touch on the input surface/touch pad: thetouch module 602 detects the finger touch based on input from the inputsurface 181.

At step 710, present the GUI: the GUI display module 606 displays theGUI such that it becomes visible on at least one optical assembly 180A,180B of the eyewear 100 when the finger is detected and remains visibleuntil it is removed.

At step 712, identify a finger gesture on the input surface: the touchmodule 602 monitors the position of the finger while it is on the inputsurface and processes the positions to identify gestures. For example, amovement in a generally downward direction is perceived as a swipe down.

At step 714, adjust the GUI: the GUI display module 606 adjusts the GUIin response to the finger movement on the input surface.

The processor implementing the GUI display module 606 may display theactual position of the finger on the input surface in a correspondingvirtual position on a virtual input surface of the GUI—as presented on adisplay. Additionally, as the finger is moved in a particular direction,the label associated with that direction may be highlighted to indicatethat action will be selected upon removal of the finger from the inputsurface.

At step 716, detect a finger release and, at step 718, perform theaction: the touch module 602 detects the finger release based on inputfrom the input surface and the eyewear 100 performs the selected actionassociated with the identified gesture.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the Tap/Touch Flow 730 depicts steps forperforming actions in response to a tap or a touch. At step 732, detecta finger touch. The touch module 602 detects the finger touch based oninput from the input surface. At step 734, monitor the time to releasethe finger. The touch module 602 starts a timer when the finger touch isdetected, which runs until the finger is removed. At decision block 736,compare the monitored time to a predetermined time (e.g., 100milliseconds). If the time is less than the predetermined time, performthe default action in step 738 (e.g., a default action option from theGUI or another predefined action). Otherwise, display the GUI withoutperforming the default action in step 740.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the Transition Flow 770 depicts the steps forperforming actions in response to touch input either from the primarytouchpad 181 on the eyewear 100 or from the auxiliary touchpad 591 onthe ring 500. In some implementations the touch module 602 at step 772detects when an activation signal is sensed by the auxiliary touchpad591 on the ring 500. In response, at step 774 the touch module 602temporarily suspends all inputs from the primary touchpad 181 on theeyewear device 100. With the auxiliary touchpad 591 now serving as thecontrolling input device, the touch module 602 at step 776 detects whenan auxiliary finger touch is sensed by the auxiliary touchpad 591 on thering 500 and, in response, at step 778 presents the next or subsequentGUI on the display. In this aspect, the touch module 602 controls whichinput device has priority.

The touch module 602 will continue to detect at step 776 additionalinputs sensed by the auxiliary touchpad 591 on the ring 500, and topresent at step 778 the next or subsequent GUI on the display, unlessand until it detects a reactivation signal from the primary touchpad 181on the eyewear 100. In this aspect, the touch module 602 operates in aloop between steps 776 and 778 such that the input device with priorityis persistent.

The touch module 602 in some implementation detects at step 780 when areactivation signal is sensed by the primary touchpad 181 on the eyewear100, signaling that the primary touchpad 181 should now have priorityand control the operation of the GUI. In response, the touch module 602at step 782 temporarily suspends all inputs from the auxiliary touchpad591 on the ring 600. With the primary touchpad 181 now serving as thecontrolling input device, the touch module 602—as described in theSelection Flow 700 and the Tap or Touch Flow 730—detects when a primaryfinger touch is sensed by the primary touchpad 181 on the eyewear 100and, in response, presents the first GUI on the display.

The display 650 in some implementations, is projected onto a surface,such as a head-mounted screen or onto at least one lens assembly (e.g.,an optical element 180A, 180B of an eyewear device 100) as describedherein. The eyewear device 100 may include a projector 150 (FIG. 2B)that is positioned and configured to project the physical environment20, the cursor 661, and the virtual object 700 in motion along the path665 onto at least one optical lens assembly (e.g., the right opticalelement 180B). In this implementation, the ring 500 cooperates with theeyewear 100 to present the GUI on the display 650.

The selective control and transition system 1000, as shown in FIG. 4 ,in some implementations, includes a handheld device (e.g., ring 500) anda portable device (e.g., eyewear 100). The ring 500 includes amicrocontroller 530, an input device (e.g., touchpad 591), and aninertial measurement unit 572. The eyewear 100, which is incommunication with the ring 500, includes a processor 932, a memory 934,and a display (e.g., the image display associated with at least one lensor optical assembly 180A, 180B).

Any of the message composition and sharing functionality describedherein for the eyewear device 100, the ring 500, the mobile device 890,and the server system 998 can be embodied in one or more computersoftware applications or sets of programming instructions, as describedherein. According to some examples, “function,” “functions,”“application,” “applications,” “instruction,” “instructions,” or“programming” are program(s) that execute functions defined in theprograms. Various programming languages can be employed to produce oneor more of the applications, structured in a variety of manners, such asobject-oriented programming languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++)or procedural programming languages (e.g., C or assembly language). In aspecific example, a third-party application (e.g., an applicationdeveloped using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) byan entity other than the vendor of the particular platform) may includemobile software running on a mobile operating system such as IOS™,ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or another mobile operating systems. In thisexample, the third-party application can invoke API calls provided bythe operating system to facilitate functionality described herein.

Hence, a machine-readable medium may take many forms of tangible storagemedium. Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical ormagnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computerdevices or the like, such as may be used to implement the client device,media gateway, transcoder, etc. shown in the drawings. Volatile storagemedia include dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computerplatform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copperwire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within acomputer system. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form ofelectric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such asthose generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media thereforeinclude for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetictape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any otheroptical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storagemedium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data orinstructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or anyother medium from which a computer may read programming code or data.Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved incarrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to aprocessor for execution.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated orillustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedicationof any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, orequivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recitedin the claims.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises or includes a list of elements or steps doesnot include only those elements or steps but may include other elementsor steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or “an” does not,without further constraints, preclude the existence of additionalidentical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus thatcomprises the element.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. Such amounts are intended to have a reasonablerange that is consistent with the functions to which they relate andwith what is customary in the art to which they pertain. For example,unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like mayvary by as much as ±10% from the stated amount.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen thatvarious features are grouped together in various examples for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examplesrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected liesin less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subjectmatter.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and other examples, it is understood that various modifications maybe made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be appliedin numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: an eyewear device comprisinga primary input surface, a processor, a memory, and a display; ahandheld device in wireless communication with said eyewear device, saidhandheld device comprising an auxiliary input surface and amicrocontroller; programming in said memory, wherein execution of saidprogramming by said processor configures said eyewear device to performfunctions, including functions to: detect a primary finger touch on saidprimary input surface; present a first graphical user interface on saiddisplay responsive to said detected primary finger touch on said primaryinput surface; detect, using said processor, an activation signalassociated with a timer and said auxiliary input surface, wherein saidactivation signal comprises an input action selected from the groupconsisting of a single finger tap, one or more finger taps, a fingertouch and release associated with a duration relative to said timer; inresponse to said detected activation signal and using said processor,selectively suspend operation of said primary input surface and activateoperation of said auxiliary input surface; detect an auxiliary fingertouch on said auxiliary input surface; and present a subsequentgraphical user interface on said display responsive to said detectedauxiliary finger touch on said auxiliary input surface.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said execution further configures said eyewear deviceto: detect a reactivation signal from said primary input surface; andselectively suspend said auxiliary input surface responsive to saiddetected reactivation signal.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein saidexecution further configures said eyewear device to: identify a fingergesture on said primary input surface of said eyewear device bydetecting at least one touch event; and adjust said first graphical userinterface responsive to said identified finger gesture.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said function to detect said primary finger touch onsaid primary input surface further includes a function to detect aposition of said primary finger touch on said primary input surfacerelative to a primary coordinate system; and wherein said function topresent said first graphical user interface on said display furtherincludes a function to (a) present a first virtual input surfacecorresponding in shape and time to said primary input surface; and (b)display a virtual cursor adjacent said first virtual input surface in avirtual position corresponding in location and time to said position ofsaid primary finger touch on said primary input surface.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein said function to detect said auxiliary finger touchon said auxiliary input surface further includes a function to detect aposition of said auxiliary finger touch on said auxiliary input surfacerelative to a touchpad coordinate system; and wherein said function topresent said subsequent graphical user interface on said display furtherincludes a function to (a) present an auxiliary virtual input surfacecorresponding in shape and time to said auxiliary input surface; and (b)display a virtual auxiliary cursor adjacent said first auxiliary inputsurface in a virtual position corresponding in location and time to saidposition of said auxiliary finger touch on said auxiliary input surface.6. The system of claim 5, wherein handheld device further comprises aninertial measurement unit, and wherein said function to display avirtual auxiliary cursor adjacent said first auxiliary input surfacefurther includes a function to: collect track data from said handhelddevice, wherein said track data is associated with a segment traversedby a finger along said auxiliary input surface relative to said touchpadcoordinate system; and display said virtual auxiliary cursor inaccordance with said track data.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein saideyewear device further comprises a structure including a frame and aright temple extending from a right lateral side of said frame andsupporting said primary input surface, and wherein said display issupported by said structure, positioned to present an image to a user,and coupled to a display driver to control said image.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein said structure further comprises a left templeextending from a left lateral side of said frame; wherein said eyeweardevice further comprises a secondary input surface positioned on saidleft temple; and wherein said execution further configures said eyeweardevice to: detect a left-side activation signal from said secondaryinput surface; selectively suspend said primary input surface responsiveto said detected left-side activation signal from said secondary inputsurface; detect a left-side finger touch on said secondary inputsurface; and present a new graphical user interface on said displayresponsive to said detected left-side finger touch on said secondaryinput surface.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said eyewear devicefurther comprises: at least one optical assembly comprising asemi-transparent lens layer and a display matrix configured to functionas said display; and a projector configured to perform one or more ofsaid present functions responsive to said execution of said programming.10. A method of operating a graphical user interface, said methodcomprising: detecting a primary finger touch on a primary input surfacesupported by an eyewear device, said eyewear device further comprising aprocessor, a memory, and a display; said processor presenting a firstgraphical user interface on said display responsive to said detectedprimary finger touch on said primary input surface; detecting, usingsaid processor, an activation signal associated with a timer and anauxiliary input surface supported by a handheld device, wherein saidhandheld device is in wireless communication with said eyewear deviceand further comprises a microcontroller, and wherein said activationsignal comprises an input action selected from the group consisting of asingle finger tap, one or more finger taps, a finger touch and releaseassociated with a duration relative to said timer; in response todetecting said activation signal, said processor selectively suspendingoperation of said primary input surface and activating operation of saidauxiliary input surface; detecting an auxiliary finger touch on saidauxiliary input surface; and said processor presenting a subsequentgraphical user interface on said display responsive to said detectedauxiliary finger touch on said auxiliary input surface.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: detecting a reactivation signal fromsaid primary input surface; and said processor selectively suspendingsaid auxiliary input surface responsive to said detected reactivationsignal.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: identifying afinger gesture on said primary input surface of said eyewear device bydetecting at least one touch event; and said processor adjusting saidfirst graphical user interface responsive to said identified fingergesture.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: detecting aposition of said primary finger touch on said primary input surfacerelative to a primary coordinate system; said processor presenting afirst virtual input surface corresponding in shape and time to saidprimary input surface; and said processor displaying a virtual cursoradjacent said first virtual input surface in a virtual positioncorresponding in location and time to said position of said primaryfinger touch on said primary input surface.
 14. The method of claim 10,further comprising: detecting a position of said auxiliary finger touchon said auxiliary input surface relative to a touchpad coordinatesystem; said processor presenting an auxiliary virtual input surfacecorresponding in shape and time to said auxiliary input surface; andsaid processor displaying a virtual auxiliary cursor adjacent said firstauxiliary input surface in a virtual position corresponding in locationand time to said position of said auxiliary finger touch on saidauxiliary input surface.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein handhelddevice further comprises an inertial measurement unit, said methodfurther comprising: said processor displaying a virtual auxiliary cursoradjacent said first auxiliary input surface; said microcontrollercollecting track data from said handheld device, wherein said track datais associated with a segment traversed by a finger along said auxiliaryinput surface relative to said touchpad coordinate system; and saidprocessor displaying said virtual auxiliary cursor in accordance withsaid track data.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein said eyewear devicefurther comprises a structure including a frame and a right templeextending from a right lateral side of said frame, said primary inputsurface is positioned on said right temple, said eyewear device furthercomprises a left temple extending from a left lateral side of said frameand supporting a secondary input surface, and said method furthercomprising: detecting a left-side activation signal from said secondaryinput surface; said processor selectively suspending said primary inputsurface responsive to said detected left-side activation signal fromsaid secondary input surface; detecting a left-side finger touch on saidsecondary input surface; and said processor presenting a new graphicaluser interface on said display responsive to said detected left-sidefinger touch on said secondary input surface.
 17. The method of claim10, wherein said eyewear device further comprises a projector and atleast one optical assembly comprising a semi-transparent lens layer anda display matrix, said method further comprising: configuring saiddisplay matrix to function as said display; configuring a projector toperform one or more of said presenting steps.
 18. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing program code which, when executed, isoperative to cause an electronic processor to perform the steps of:detecting a primary finger touch on a primary input surface supported byan eyewear device, said eyewear device further comprising a processor, amemory, and a display; presenting a first graphical user interface onsaid display responsive to said detected primary finger touch on saidprimary input surface; detecting an activation signal associated with atimer and an auxiliary input surface supported by a handheld device,wherein said handheld device is in wireless communication with saideyewear device and further comprises a microcontroller, and wherein saidactivation signal comprises an input action selected from the groupconsisting of a single finger tap, one or more finger taps, a fingertouch and release associated with a duration relative to said timer; inresponse to detecting said activation signal, selectively suspendingoperation of said primary input surface and activating operation of saidauxiliary input surface; detecting an auxiliary finger touch on saidauxiliary input surface; and presenting a subsequent graphical userinterface on said display responsive to said detected auxiliary fingertouch on said auxiliary input surface.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising: detecting areactivation signal from said primary input surface; and selectivelysuspending said auxiliary input surface responsive to said detectedreactivation signal.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 18, further comprising: detecting a position of said primaryfinger touch on said primary input surface relative to a primarycoordinate system; presenting a first virtual input surfacecorresponding in shape and time to said primary input surface; anddisplaying a virtual cursor adjacent said first virtual input surface ina virtual position corresponding in location and time to said positionof said primary finger touch on said primary input surface.